The European Wildcat
who appears to have contributed darker markings and a peppery spirit to
the African wildcat base. Also, from Asia, comes the Pallas or Steppe
cat (Felis manul) that appears to have contributed long-haired coats to
the mix.

The early period of domestication of cats is vague with only patches of evidence.

"Traditionally,
historians tended to think that ancient Egypt was the site of cat
domestication, due to the clear depictions of house cats in Egyptian
paintings about 3,600 years old. However, in 2004, a Neolithic grave was
excavated in Shillourokambos, Cyprus, that contained the skeletons,
laid close to one another, of both a human and a cat. The grave is
estimated to be 9,500 years old, pushing back the earliest known
feline-human association significantly. The cat specimen is large and
closely resembles the African wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica), rather
than present-day domestic cats. This discovery, combined with genetic
studies, suggest that cats were probably domesticated in the Near East,
in the Fertile Crescent around the time of the development of
agriculture? And then they were brought to Cyprus and Egypt."

The Romans spread the domestic cat northward into central
Europe and westward to Britain during the expansion of their empire.
Cats were quickly adopted and admired as great hunters. The Vikings used
cats as both rodent hunters and pets. The Viking goddess of love and
war, Freyja, was associated with cats. Huge winged cats drew her
chariot. It also became the custom to give a new bride a kitten in her
name.

Attitudes towards cats throughout the ages

Throughout the ages, cats have been both adored and despised by
different groups of people. During the Middle Ages it was a very bad
time to be a cat, which were said to be the pets of witches, in league
with the devil. Because of this superstition, cats were routinely killed
during festivals. Sometimes they were even burned alive or thrown off
tall buildings. The Europeans paid heavily for their cruelty to cats.
The deaths of so many cats allowed the rodent population to rise out of
control, bringing in the Black Plague which decimated much of the
European population. Eventually, the cats’ clean ways and hunting
prowess redeemed them in the eyes of Europeans. By the 1600s, people in
France began putting little holes near the bottom of their doors to
allow their cats to enter and leave as they please.

In Asia cats continued to be familiar hunters and cherished pets.
Cats were often subjects for drawing and painting in China. In Japan,
cats are usually portrayed as a sitting cat with one paw raised and
bent,which is considered a sign of good fortune. This is called ‘Maneki
Neko’. These cat statutes are often found in businesses in the hope of
making money.

The history of cats is a fascinating one, worthy of much more in
depth study. It fosters an appreciation for the personalities and
talents of our pets.